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Just the facts, ma'am: A stamp for LAPD's 'Dragnet'

The story you are about to read is true. The names have not been changed to protect the innocent.

The United States Postal Service will begin selling a new "Dragnet" postage stamp on Tuesday, officials say.

Actor Jack Webb played LAPD Sgt. Joe Friday on the television series that began airing more than half a century ago and ensured the police department’s place in Hollywood lore.

The department is now returning the favor by helping host an event at the Police Academy in Elysian Park to commemorate the release of the stamp, authorities said. The stamp will be on sale beginning at noon.

It is one of 20 collectible stamps that pay tribute to early television shows that will be released by the Postal Service on Tuesday.

Rich Thompson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard, said it probably will not rain.

Those are just the facts, ma’am.

[Updated at 2:44 p.m.: At 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, there will also be a
ceremony announcing the release of all 20 of the early-TV-memories
first-class commemorative stamps at the Leonard H. Goldenson Theatre at
the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Participants include Carl Reiner; Groucho Marx's son Arthur Marx; Tracy Nelson, granddaughter of Ozzie and Harriet Nelson; and actress Jayne Meadows Allen.

Among other shows being honored with stamps are "The Lone Ranger,"
"Twilight Zone," "The Tonight Show," "The Ed Sullivan Show" and
"Lassie."]